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The world is full of unsolved problems. It is also full of problems for which solutions already exist, if we only leverage them. When we slow down for a minute, consider the available options, and more carefully assess the consequences of various modes of action, we have a better chance of directing our efforts where they ought to go–for the good of ourselves and the issues we face.

Matthew Cohen ’18 and Johnathan Bowes ’15 debate whether Puerto Rico should become the 51st state in the United States. Cohen urges us to question the previous votes in Puerto Rico as well as its tremendous debt while Bowes argues the US should respect the will of Puerto Ricans in whatever they choose.

OPINIONS

Non-Intervention Never Sounded so Good

As a 22-year-old college student, I recognize I am not expected to speak on foreign policy. Yet I write today as both a Marine Corps brat and a concerned citizen who has seen his country in a state of war for the greater part of his life. I was only nine years old when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, but since that time, I have heard of nothing but wars and rumors of wars in the Middle East and elsewhere.

During the Bush Administration, many spoke out against U.S. military engagements abroad. But since President Obama took office in 2009, anti-war sentiments have been much more subdued. The duration and distant nature of the wars, combined with Americans’ overall lack of personal connection to members of the Armed Forces, have significantly diminished the average citizen’s ability to understand the human cost associated with our presence there.

U.S. and coalition casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan now total 8,217 people. The Iraq Body Count project reports that the Iraq War has caused a massive 121,614 to 134,950 civilian casualties, but even more staggeringly, a new 2013 study suggests that violence and wartime conditions have been responsible for over 500,000 civilian deaths.

Sadly, our government has a poor track record when it comes to picking wars and interventions. Much as the constant threat of terrorism breeds fear and encourages big government today, the fear of communism justified U.S. lawlessness and interventionism abroad for the greater part of the 20th century. The CIA has now led operations in countries all around the globe, doing everything from gathering intelligence to training insurgents to funding propaganda efforts.

Through it all, America has been far from consistent in its Western ideals, in several cases opting to oust democratically elected governments. Perhaps the most famous of these was the overthrow of Prime Minister Mossadegh of Iran in 1953.

While our wars and foreign entanglements keep most people more or less oblivious to the subtler realities of the American empire, military families such as my own experience it firsthand. During my family’s six-year deployment to Okinawa, Japan, we saw massive protests from those who didn’t want our facilities on their island. At the time, this broke my heart – I loved the Okinawans and couldn’t understand why some were so unhappy. In hindsight, I can hardly blame them.

All told, the United States has over 145,000 troops overseas, not including the 40,000 involved in operations in Afghanistan and other undisclosed regions. We have some kind of military facility in nearly 180 countries. Though the majority are small, with staffs of under 20 people, many are exceptionally large. Japan hosts 54,000 U.S. service members; Germany, 47,000; the United Kingdom, 13,000; Italy, 11,000. Several others maintain staffs of between 1,000 and 5,000, such as the bases in Turkey, Bahrain, Spain, and Portugal.

It all sounds eerily imperialistic. And I can’t help but wonder – would we be supportive of other superpowers who adopted similar policies? It’s hard to imagine a fully-equipped Russian or Chinese military base in Cuba or Venezuela being seen as anything short of a declaration of war. A friend of mine recently pointed out that despite strong American criticism of Russia’s recent occupation of Crimea, it’s difficult to argue that the U.S. would react any differently if one of ourhost countries suffered a tumultuous revolution and the rise of a popular anti-American government.

There’s also the sheer cost of the military-industrial complex. Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government estimates that the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars will ultimately cost $6 trillion dollars – the equivalent of more than a third of the national debt. Nearly 20 percent of the U.S. government’s budget is spent on defense, a sum that in 2011 famously exceeded the defense spending of the next 13 countries combined. America’s self-proclaimed prerogative to police the world, even if morally justified, is monetarily unsustainable.

The heart of the matter is that, despite our intelligence programs, superpower military and best intentions, we often don’t know what we are getting into. We never know if the groups we are arming will one day fight against us or if the government we are putting in power will be good for their people or for ours. We never know when our wars will spiral out of control and turn into quagmires like Iraq or Vietnam.

As we face the evolving crisis in Ukraine, I pray our leaders remember these lessons of the past and recognize that the situation is almost certainly more complex than meets the eye. Should we support a Ukraine that insists on retaining Crimea, when 60 percent of the region identifies as Russian? We have traditionally supported self-determination: If the Crimeans want to join Russia or declare independence, should we stop them? Thus far, I am unconvinced that taking sides on a civil war on the other side of the world is crucial to our national security. Rather, I fear that any involvement will likely create more enemies than sympathizers.

It is time to revisit the guidance of our Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson famously taught: “Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations…entangling alliances with none.” In light of the consequences of past interventionism, I am becoming ever more convinced that the best foreign policy is one of peace, trade and diplomacy. We need to let other nations resolve their own conflicts.

About Josh Jones

Josh Jones is a libertarian-leaning columnist for The Stanford Daily and serves as Executive Editor of The Stanford Review. The son of a Marine, Josh has lived in various places around the globe, but usually identifies as a Southern Californian. While he enjoys reading, writing, and exercising, he believes that God and family are the true sources of happiness in his life. He plans to major in Public Policy and attend law school.

Very nice article, thoughtful with some facts thrown in. I often feel disillusioned with Government/Politics and foreign affairs. I would much rather prefer to keep to myself, and be a “Switzerland” so to speak. I think it would be interesting to rewind the clock, go back and undo a lot of the things he discusses in this article. I wonder what our world would look like today had our Government not done anything in those situations he discusses? That would be an interesting article as well. I’d love to read a piece on a history undone. What might our world look like today had none of those things ever been done by our Government. Anyway, for what its worth, I’m glad the author took the time to write this.

Rick Martinez

Thank you, Josh, for sharing your thoughts—wise, objective and balanced beyond your age. I wholehearted agree with your final assessment that America today must not be the police of the world, and America’s aim should be one of peace, cooperation, trade and diplomacy. And, most importantly America must allow other nations to resolve their own conflicts.

I used to believe in what was formerly known as a “just war”—when rogue governments beat-up and even kill their own people…or they infringe on their neighbors–wars we don’t pick by the way. However, these same people—the ones we believe we’re helping—turn on us and call us Imperialists, like you say. It reminds me of the age-old saying: “People don’t like (even hate) the persons they owe!”

Also, the difference in Russia in Crimea and America in the Philippines, for example, is that when the Filipino government felt they no longer needed us or wanted us there, America left…no if’s, and’s or but’s—even though it was in our strategic interest to stay there. Yes, we in America want peace and wish for no more men or women be put in harm’s way. Yet, we must look back and learn from
history: Unless Russia leaves the Ukraine willingly, a defensive strategy in the face of Russian history never has produced any positive outcome.

And lastly, perhaps the most striking point you made to all Americans of anti-war sentiment is a call for action. Instead of continued government waste and entitlements of cell phones, for example, let’s get a fire started behind the butt of government for something essential and vital: Military personnel healthcare. Our veterans and Veteran Hospitals need help and support. Our military and their families should be able to go to any and all healthcare facilities for care. They need medical care…certainly more than Medicare persons need the entitlement of cell phones which cost government (taxpayers) hundreds of millions of dollars.

This is American government lawlessness.

Rick Martinez

Hi Joy: I’m like Sheldon on that TV series, The Big Bang Theory: I’m not good at deciphering
sarcasm. But what a magnificent thought about un-doing history and seeing what the world would look like today had America been indifferent and not done anything. If YOU or anyone you know–or YOU challenge–to author such an article, you must let me know. NeuroscienceRick@aol.com
Fabulous idea! Continued creative thinking…rick

Joy Woodruff

Hi Rick: ha! no problem. It wasn’t sarcasm, I truly wonder what it would be like today had our government not intervened in so many different instances. I really think it would be a great article. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m qualified, as I wasn’t alive for most of these events and haven’t really done too much research into the validity of most of what I have read. It’s hard to decipher truth from fiction on much of the information given. I believe there is too much hidden, too many secrets to really know for sure. I wonder if we’d all be Aryans?… Just a thought… I would love to see an article on a “history undone” by someone qualified to do so.

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Opinions Columnists

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Mark Bessen The Fault in Our Systems

Winston ShiA More Perfect Union

Mysia AndersonEvolving

Johnathan Bowes Super Tuesday

Aimee TrujilloSuper Tuesday

Veronica Anorve Super Tuesday

Neil ChaudharyDouble Take

Mina ShahWednesdays in the World

Raven JiangQuoth the Raven

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